Whenever his blue eyes looked directly into hers, she felt her stomach drop away, and with it, walls inside her mind seemed to crumble to reveal the woman behind them—the real Scarlet. He was gentle. He didn’t pound her defenses down, he just looked at her and the carefully constructed bricks and mortar just fell away.
He had talked to her in that voice, so low and soft, so commanding, and it resonated through her entire body. She loved being with him every single moment of that day in the redwoods. On the motorcycle. She’d felt safe to be herself the instant she had climbed up behind him and wrapped her arms around him. When the big Harley roared to life and they’d begun to move together through the streets with the cars so close, she hadn’t cringed, she’d just held him tighter and moved with him.
The entire day with Absinthe felt surreal, a dream, a fantasy out of one of her romance novels. She told herself it was too perfect. Men like Absinthe really didn’t exist and there had to be a terrible catch she wasn’t seeing. She had proven already she didn’t have good judgment when it came to choosing men, yet here she was, her small bag sitting next to her in the passenger seat, and her stomach in knots while a thousand butterflies flew around in a chaotic mess. The closer she got to the coffee shop, the more her heart accelerated out of control and her blood went hot and rushed through her veins straight to her sex.
She’d even gone shopping for more sexy lingerie. She couldn’t help herself. She had a favorite boutique online and she’d had the bras and panties overnighted to her along with the sexiest transparent boyfriend shirt she could find. She hoped Absinthe liked green. She looked really good in green. Just the thought of his eyes moving over her body had her nipples getting hard and her breasts aching for his touch.
She really needed to get some perspective. The light turned green and she was on Highway 20, a twisting, turning road that was really only thirty-three miles to her destination but took an hour to drive due to the road conditions. Panic began to set in. What was she doing? She was crazy. She couldn’t make a commitment. She needed to pull over on one of the turnouts and think. Get her head straight. She couldn’t let the best sex in the world sway her. Or just knowing he might be the smartest man she’d ever met. Or the kindest.
Her heart really began to pound, but not in a good way. Her lungs burned for air. She had killed people. Murdered them. Most likely Holden was going to send his motorcycle maniacs after her. She would manage to kill a few of them, but eventually they would get her. She would go down fighting, because she wasn’t going to let them rape her. Or sell her into trafficking as Holden Sr. would want to see happen to her. He wouldn’t have her killed; he would want her to suffer in a big way.
She looked for a place to pull over, but if she did, she knew she would turn around, go back to Sonoma, pack her bags and make a run for it. Absinthe, with his brains, his gentleness, killer sex and sweet ways, was far too much of a temptation. And he wouldn’t just leave her alone, he would show up at the library and try to persuade her. She would have to go. Run for it.
Her phone went off and she glanced at the wide radio screen. Don’t answer. Don’t answer. Don’t answer. She couldn’t stop herself.
“Absinthe.” She breathed his name, knowing she sounded way too excited and he’d know she was thinking about him. Worse, he’d probably know she was thinking about having hot, amazing sex with him.
“Moya literaturnaya ledi.”
Her heart skipped a beat and then began to pound. Her stomach did that slow roll and she found herself smiling. She loved the sound of his voice, even coming over her car speakers.
“I’m checking to make sure you’re on the road. If you’re not, I’m heading your way. It’s been too long and I swear, miledi, I can’t wait another day.”
She loved that it was too long for him as well. Sonoma and Caspar were too far apart. Couldn’t he practice in Sonoma? Did they have a library in Caspar? She’d have to find out where the closest one was. She didn’t mind moving. She loved the coast. Was it too soon to think about that? Probably. She didn’t want to be the one to suggest it. It had to come from him. She couldn’t wait to see him.
“I’m on my way. I’m about just past Willits now and heading up 20.”